Fallen firefighter fundraiser will be Sept. 3

Submitted

The Spring Ridge Volunteer Firefighters will host a benefit breakfast for two fallen firefighters on September 3, 2011.
Alex Hudson, a volunteer at the Gilchrist County Fire Department, and Chad Hood, a member of the High Springs Fire Department, were both killed recently in separate vehicle crashes. They were long time members of their respective departments and committed to public safety.

Chad Hood	Alex Hudson

All the profits from the Sept. 3 breakfast, which is held the first Saturday of every month in Spring Ridge, will be donated to the families.
Members of the Trenton Fire Department, Gilchrist County Fire Department, and High Springs Fire Department will all join in to help serve breakfast.
Chad was born on August 10, 1975, in Gainesville and was 35 years old.
Chad came to work as a fulltime firefighter for High Springs in February 2007. He always did his job. He was a very quiet individual, always putting his family first, participating in community and church events; and he doted on his son Wyatt. He enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing and spending time with his family.
Chad has family members scattered all over Alachua and surrounding counties.
Chad was married to Susan and leaves behind his parents, Brian and Susan Hood of Gainesville; biological father, Lewis W. DeLoach of Winter Haven; special daughter, Michelle Gil of Kingston; brothers, Jeremy (Ashley) Hood and Jonathan Hood of Gainesville; and grandmothers, Beverly DeLoach of Winter Haven, Rebecca DeLoach of Gainesville and Lucille Hood of Palmyra, Pennsylvania.
Alex W. Hudson III was born on November 25, 1976 to parents Alexander W. Hudson Jr. and Tammy Darling.
Alex joined the Trenton Fire Department in 1994 and worked his way up through the ranks all the way up to fire chief.
Alex was an important influence in the lives of past and current firefighters throughout Gilchrist County.
He also helped mentor all of the current officer staff at Trenton, including the current fire chief.
Alex enjoyed all activities outdoors, but nothing brought him more joy than his wife Sherry and his three kids; although, the Florida Gators were a close second.
Alex will be remembered as a great husband and father, brave firefighter, compassionate chief, and the most dedicated Gators fan.
The breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. and close at 10 a.m. The fire station is on County Road 340 about a mile west of the Ginnie Springs entrance.
Please make checks out to Spring Ridge Volunteer Fire Department.
For more information contact Charlie Perez at 386-454-1428 or Don Alexander at 386-454-7035.